The
North Central Predators (NCP) are happy to have Head Coach Daryl Bat returning
to the bench this season to lead the U-11 team.
Bat coached NCP’s youngest players, the
U-10 team, last season and said he is looking forward to the opportunity to
continue to lead on-ice and off-ice development for the group. He said he plans
on putting together a team that will be seen as tough competition by their
opponents. “I would like the group of players that are selected to work together
towards making sure we are a very tough team to play against. No game versus us
next season will be easy and hopefully it will show through our record and
improvement from the start of the season and till the end,” he said.
Daryl was raised in Orillia, ON and brings a wealth of hockey knowledge to NCP. Over the past two decades he has held the Head Coach title for many hockey teams (U13+) in Canada and Denmark and has owned/operated numerous hockey schools in Canada, Denmark and Sweden. His coaching experience includes his role as the Sports Manager for the KSF Osterbro Hockey Club in Copenhagen, Denmark (2014-2016), overseeing hockey operations for all teams (U7 to U18) as well as his time as an Assistant Coach for the Orillia Junior C Terriers in 2019.
He received a NCAA D1 scholarship to Bemidji State University in 1999 and played two seasons in the CIS for the York University Varsity Men’s hockey team. He then went on to play 11 seasons of professional hockey in Europe in both Sweden and the Netherlands.
NCP’s long history of providing coaches, players and families with a very professional atmosphere is what Bat said drew him to the organization. “Right from the board members to all the coaches that are selected to guide their teams, the support and resources you receive really benefits you as a coach which translates onto the ice throughout the season,” he said.
He said the younger NCP teams do face one challenge that a lot of other organizations do not. Drawing from a very large area, can make it is tough to convince families with young players to make the commitment that comes with a jump to AAA. He said a solid foundation and support system can make or break a season for a team. “I plan on having a very tightknit group of players and parents that will support each other through the ups and downs that will happen during a hockey season,” he said.
On the ice, Bat looks forward to introducing players to aspects of hockey such as odd man rushes, penalty kills and power plays this season. “The ETA 2013 (U-11) age group is very talented with a lot of solid teams that will challenge our group of players, which in-turn will be very beneficial to the overall development of our team. No game will be easy so it will be up to us as a group to be prepared and that starts once the team is selected at the end of April.”
After leading our youngest athletes to a terrific first year of AAA hockey, our Association is ecstatic to have Daryl back at the helm of our U-11 club.....